The Steelers Are Walking A Fine Line In 2025 Free Agency
As we continue to sail through the first few days of the 2025 NFL free agency period, the Steelers haven’t been as active as many anticipated, despite having a surplus of cap space. However, if you read between the lines, the blueprint for the Steelers’ future may have just become a bit clearer, based on some assumptions that can be made from their activity—or lack thereof—during the early stages of free agency.
So far, Pittsburgh has made four key additions: the blockbuster trade for DK Metcalf, an agreement in principle with veteran corner Darius Slay, and two value signings in linebacker Malik Harrison and running back Kenneth Gainwell. Despite those moves, the volume and value of unrestricted free agents departing Pittsburgh heavily outweigh what’s coming in. This sets the Steelers up to be in prime position to secure multiple compensatory draft picks in 2026, which could be a significant part of their long-term roster-building strategy.
Why does this matter?
To many, it may seem like the Steelers are punting on the 2025 season due to their lack of urgency in bringing in unrestricted free agents during the early portions of free agency. However, it’s becoming clear that they are taking a more narrow and strategic approach—targeting trades or being linked to players who were released by their former teams, such as Aaron Rodgers, Darius Slay, and Cooper Kupp. These types of signings do not count against the compensatory pick formula, which seems to be a major priority for the Steelers front office right now. It’s fair to say these are all “win-now” moves for a franchise that prides itself on competing year in and year out, even if it doesn’t always seem like the most obvious or wisest path from the outside looking in.
Reading between the lines, it certainly appears the Steelers are trying to build the best possible roster around their less-than-ideal quarterback situation for 2025. At the same time, they’re positioning themselves to continue adding talent in 2026—potentially at the most important position on the field.
Looking ahead to 2026, this method of acquisitions in free agency could allow the Steelers to reap the rewards of their patience and planning. According to Over the Cap, as things currently stand, the Steelers are projected to receive a 3rd-round, 4th-round, and three 6th-round compensatory picks for the 2026 NFL Draft. Obviously, these are subject to change depending on any future free agent signings that could offset their losses—or if a player like Russell Wilson signs elsewhere, they could potentially gain another pick.
The bottom line is this: as Alan Saunders of Steelers Now pointed out, there’s a real chance the Steelers are stockpiling draft capital for 2026 They could use those picks to fill out the depth of the roster in the later rounds, or, as I believe is very possible, package them to move up in a draft that could feature several top-tier quarterback prospects. With the 2026 draft being held in Pittsburgh, it’s easy to envision the Steelers making a big move in front of their home crowd to select the quarterback they hope will be their future.
The fine line the Steelers are walking is largely one they’ve brought upon themselves. If they’re able to secure the names they’ve been linked to—players who were released from their prior teams—as their “big moves,” it’s hard to argue they wouldn’t be an improved team compared to the 2024 iteration of the Steelers on paper. However, if they swing and miss on these limited options, there’s a real chance they’ll have let most of the top names come off the board during these first few days of free agency, potentially leaving themselves in a weaker position.
Now, the entire comp pick milking process is still speculative, based on just a small sample size from the first two days of the legal tampering period. But the more you think about it, the more this idea seems to make sense. And if they can somehow pull this off, I think this could go down as one of the smarter offseason strategies they’ve employed in recent years.
How do you feel? Do you think this idea they seem to be trying to implement is a smart one? Or do you think the Steelers are trying to finesse this offseason too much?
Well, this would be quite the impressive “long game”. I could buy this as a “plan” if it didn’t so conveniently cover over their recent missteps. Color me rather skeptical.
Also, this kind of simmering roster build basically says F. U. to guys like Watt, and Heyward. So if the plan is to land a QB in the 26 draft why not trade them? If I’m TJ and they soft play the QB position this off season, I’m not trying to extend – I’m hitting free agency in 26.
Who would be the “hard play” at qb be this offseason? Is fields that much better than Wilson or Rodgers? QB is a tough position to fill. This class of free agents and the draft is not strong. No one they can acquire this offseason will be the qb beyond a few years most likely, let alone win them a Super Bowl. So why go all in on this year, when you can play it smarter this offseason to set up next offseason where the crop of talent is supposed to be better, leading to a qb that is there for the next 10-15 years hopefully. It’s a qb driven league. I cannot stress enough how tough it is to find a guy like Ben Roethlisberger. The pats are still looking to replace Brady, the colts/manning, saints/Brees, etc. It’s not common to go from Favre to Rodgers.
I think the only guy you could’ve signed this offseason and how he’s the future is Darnold, and I do not think he is worth the money, especially considering the comp picks
I’m well aware of the difficulty landing a better than good QB, and I’m not expectingthem to 3D print one. I did expect them to have a target and be aggressivein his pursuit.
“Soft play” meaning not identifying a guy and getting a deal done – exactly how they handled the WR position last season.
If they liked Fields as much as were being lead to believe why is he now a Jet? They allegedly offered Darnold, no dice. I’ve read reports that Wilson is still in the picture, but still no QB. Now we’re on a very expensive for what they’re
gonna get option 4. Shure doesn’t look like there was a plan if Fields said thanks but no thanks.
Something tells me that the Steelers would have given Fields the contract that the Jets gave him had they known how this would play out. Yes, I know that using hindsight like this isn’t fair. It’s still my opinion, though.
Fair enough sir.
It’s easy to forget (or not realize) that Terry Bradshaw’s last pass for the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger’s first one came 20 years (and about a dozen other starting quarterbacks) apart.
I remember all too well. That’s why I wanted a more aggressive approach.
But that’s what I’m saying, what was there to be aggressive for this offseason? I just don’t think the options were there. I would love Fields compared to the guys left, but does that really change things for the future of the team?
Yes! Now they get to pay a lot more money for a QB that has absolutely nothing to offer the run game.
I think it’s going to have to come through the draft, probably in ’26. It’s painfully obvious that for young quarterbacks who want to develop and play their game, the Steelers aren’t a preferred destination.
They still seem to expect a discount of some sort because they were an elite franchise one and two generations ago. They reportedly make lowball offers, their owner and facilities are graded low by the players, they play an archaic style of offense, don’t give their QBs much freedom to change plays and have a well-established record of getting pantsed in their cameo playoff appearances.
Sadly, these are not our fathers’ Steelers. The quarterbacks we’d like to have see them coming.
No doubt, Ernie. But I also recall some clear coaching / organizational flubs during that time too. They ignored Kordell Stewart’s athleticism and insisted that he become a pocket passer, they opted for Mike Tomczak over a (probably) better QB in Jim Miller after 2 ineffective quarters in the first game of the year (talk about coaching panic), and the best one of all…….choosing not to resign Neil O’Donnell, who had just lead the team to the Super Bowl. Think about that one for second. The Steelers had a young QB take them to the Super Bowl and they chose let him leave a couple of weeks later in free agency. Worse, he took them to the AFC Championship the year before so it’s not like he was a one hit wonder. That’s insane. How O’Donnell’s career ultimately turned out is insignificant for his success had he remained a Steeler could have been a lot different than it was for the Jets and on.
I’d love to have O’Donnell right now!
To me the most recent big time miscue was watching Big Ben decline with no apparent succession plan. I still can’t believe they didn’t draft Hurts.
All true. Lots of mistakes were made over the twenty years between Terry and Ben. They tried to replace Terry Bradshaw with Cliff Stoudt, spent a first-round draft pick on Mark Malone and drafted Gabe Rivera over Dan Marino.
O’Donnell and Stewart were the best of the bunch during those years; no championships but they did win playoff games. There were also failed experiments with guys like Todd Blackledge, David Woodley and Kent Graham.
We’re headed into our 4th season since the franchise QB retired. Let’s hope it’s the 4th season of five or six and not another twenty. I continue to think the 2026 draft is probably the best near-term chance for a real solution.
Actually, the Colts replaced Peyton Manning pretty quickly with Andrew Luck, not that that takes away from the validity of your post. It, literally, took luck in that instance and I am of the opinion that it takes some luck in all such instances.
Yeah that’s what’s scary. You can still find your guy and it still doesn’t work out more times than not. Lamar, Allen, Burrow, are arguably 3 of the top 4 QBs and have been for the last 3-5 years and don’t have any rings combined. It’s so so tough to win a Super Bowl. I’m so thankful I got to witness 2 wins with Ben.
I guess the Steelers thought they had a plan when they drafted Mason Rudolph, who some compared to Neil O’Donnell at the time. But it was going to take patient development. Ben didn’t want him here and the offensive coordinators they had (Fichtner and Canada) weren’t capable.
Why wait to start doing this until this year? The Ravens have 4 extra picks in the 2025 draft. Certainly things can change as off season goes on but so far it looks like the Steelers had a bad plan.
You have to have players that people want along with not signing other teams players. For the record, Alex Highsmith was a comp pick. And let’s call it like it is. Colbert did not do a great job drafting his last few years. Khan is 2 for 2 in my opinion.
I agree here, Khan’s first real job as a GM has been to clean up the mistakes Kevin Colbert made during his final seasons in the role. It made it difficult to build a roster that you had players who you didn’t need but other franchises would be interested in
I suppose IF stockpiling 2026 picks is the Steelers’ intention then I can get on board with that. It’s something akin to a soft tank job but fans won’t have to endure an actual tanking. I am not sure that this is the Steelers’ intention, though. They may have simply screwed the pooch with the QBs in 2025. We’ll never know for sure.
I think both things could be true, but in my opinion if you had Fields, Rodgers or Wilson for 2025 the difference is very minor. Hence I think they weren’t worried with who they ended up with come week 1 because none of them were going to be the future of the franchise
True, but Rodgers will cost a hell of a lot more than the other two, while offering the least versatility.